403 Forbidden

Category: military

I would like to thank U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, for his leadership during consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act last week [“GOP congressman pushes for immigration vote,” Politics, May 19]. His amendment proposed a transparent and independent process for considering realignment or closures of military installations — an important step toward realizing…

Punishment hardly adequate Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair was convicted by a jury of his peers, presumably other general officers, of adultery, misuse of his government credit card, soliciting sexually explicit pictures of female officers, possessing pornography in a combat zone, and mistreating his mistress, who was a subordinate officer. [“General won’t go to jail in sexual-misconduct…

I’m writing in regard to the story on the controversy about Navy jet noise on Whidbey Island [“Roaring controversy,” page one, Dec. 23].

Despite occasional lip service, the Navy generally pays no mind to the concerns of local residents who are affected by the much louder — and increasingly frequent — roar of the EA-18 Growlers practicing touch-and-go landings at the Outlying Landing Field southeast of Coupeville. The Navy misrepresented to the community the volume and impact of the noise of the Growlers before the jets arrived, so it should come as no surprise that neighbors now feel angry and frustrated.

I don’t normally write letters to the editor, but I just had to weigh in on Monday’s Whidbey “Roaring controversy” article [page one, Dec. 23]. I’m with the Navy, all the way.

Even though I served as an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam era, a time when we weren’t exactly thanked for our service, I have always respected the special skills of Navy pilots. And training is critical to develop and maintain those unique skills. To those who are complaining about the activity at Outlying Landing Field (OLF), Coupeville, what happened to “thank you for your service?”

Not the responsibility of the U.S. I am writing regarding Syria. This is a problem for NATO. [“U.N. probe shows link to Syrian government,” News, Sept. 17.] Rather than lob bombs at another country with unknown consequences and no clear idea of who the rebels are, how about a worldwide embargo and economic sanctions instead? All deaths…

Change begins at home “This is not a world we should accept,” exclaims President Obama from the front-page headline. [“‘This is not a world we should accept,’” page one, Sept. 11.] Yes, we should not accept chemical warfare. By the same token, we also should not accept diplomacy through destruction and death. We should not accept blasting…

Punish chemical-weapons manufacturers If chemical weapons are outlawed to be used on planet Earth, why are companies still allowed to manufacture them? [“‘This is not a world we should accept,’” page one, Sept. 11.] Why not go after these organizations and put them out of business? If chemical weapons are illegal, then so are the companies…

Nonviolent solution My 10-year-old son suggested what might be a workable, nonviolent solution for Syrian citizens to deter and even survive Assad’s purported gas attacks: an airdrop of gas masks. [“Russia, U.S. raise hope on Syria,” page one, Sept. 10.] Israel has gas masks available for civilians, so we could ask them how many were required…

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